CLEANING RANGIORA COUNTY DRAINS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26491, 4 August 1951, Page 2

CLEANING RANGIORA COUNTY DRAINS

CATCHMENT BOARD ASKED TO CONTINUE WORK The Rangiora County Council had learned with concern the decision of the Catchment Board to discontinue drain cleaning operations for the council. It trusted that the decision would not be final, said Mr A. M. Carpenter, who led a deputation from the Rangiora County Council which was received by the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday. The Catchment Board, in co-opera-tion with the County Council, had made a great contribution to the increased production of the area by its cleaning, maintenance and extension of drains, Mr Carpenter said. Last year about 55 miles of drains had been cleaned by the council. Lack of machinery and staff made it impossible for the council to carry out the work, Mr Carpenter said. “We have not a feather to fly with,” he added. “We are asking the board to continue to clean the mechanical drains. We could perhaps manage the land drains.”

“You made the drains, and you made the country,” said another member of the deputation (Mr C. W. Humm). “To tell us overnight that you are going to discontinue the work is not quite fair. You are going to undo a lot of the good work you have done.” The chairman of the board (Mr H. B. Ahderson) said that it had been a great disappointment to the board to have to make the decision to discontinue the work. Repair, remedial and other work was placing a tremendous strain on the board’s staff. “Perhaps some modified scheme may be worked out.” he said. “What the board can do within the framework of its ability, and taking into consideration its heavy commitments, it will do. We will have to get down to it, and see what is possible."